THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING
By Henry Fielding
CONTENTS
THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING.
BOOK I. — CONTAINING AS MUCH OF THE
BIRTH OF THE FOUNDLING AS IS NECESSARY OR PROPER TO ACQUAINT THE READER
WITH IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS HISTORY.
Chapter i. — The introduction to the work,
or bill of fare to the feast.
Chapter ii. — A short description of squire
Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister.
Chapter iii. — An odd accident which befel
Mr Allworthy at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs Deborah
Wilkins, with some proper animadversions on bastards.
Chapter iv. — The reader's neck brought
into danger by a description; his escape; and the great condescension of
Miss Bridget Allworthy.
Chapter v. — Containing a few common
matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them.
Chapter vi. — Mrs Deborah is introduced
into the parish with a simile. A short account of Jenny Jones, with the
difficulties and discouragements which may attend young women in the
pursuit of learning.
Chapter vii. — Containing such grave
matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter,
unless peradventure he should laugh at the author.
Chapter viii. — A dialogue between Mesdames
Bridget and Deborah; containing more amusement, but less instruction, than
the former.
Chapter ix. — Containing matters which will
surprize the reader.
Chapter x. — The hospitality of Allworthy;
with a short sketch of the characters of two brothers, a doctor and a
captain, who were entertained by that gentleman.
Chapter xi. — Containing many rules, and
some examples, concerning falling in love: descriptions of beauty, and
other more prudential inducements to matrimony.
Chapter xii. — Containing what the reader
may, perhaps, expect to find in it.
Chapter xiii. — Which concludes the first
book; with an instance of ingratitude, which, we hope, will appear
unnatural.
BOOK II. — CONTAINING SCENES OF
MATRIMONIAL FELICITY IN DIFFERENT DEGREES OF LIFE; AND VARIOUS OTHER
TRANSACTIONS DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS AFTER THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN CAPTAIN
BLIFIL AND MISS BRIDGET ALLWORTHY.
Chapter i. — Showing what kind of a history
this is; what it is like, and what it is not like.
Chapter ii. — Religious cautions against
showing too much favour to bastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs
Deborah Wilkins.
Chapter iii. — The description of a
domestic government founded upon rules directly contrary to those of
Aristotle.
Chapter iv. — Containing one of the most
bloody battles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in domestic
history.
Chapter v. — Containing much matter to
exercise the judgment and reflection of the reader.
Chapter vi. — The trial of Partridge, the
schoolmaster, for incontinency; the evidence of his wife; a short
reflection on the wisdom of our law; with other grave matters, which those
will like best who understand
Chapter vii. — A short sketch of that
felicity which prudent couples may extract from hatred: with a short
apology for those people who overlook imperfections in their friends.
Chapter viii. — A receipt to regain the
lost affections of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in the most
desperate cases.
Chapter ix. — A proof of the infallibility
of the foregoing receipt, in the lamentations of the widow; with other
suitable decorations of death, such as physicians, &c., and an epitaph
in the true stile.
BOOK III. — CONTAINING THE MOST
MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS WHICH PASSED IN THE FAMILY OF MR ALLWORTHY, FROM
THE TIME WHEN TOMMY JONES ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN, TILL HE ATTAINED
THE AGE OF NINETEEN. IN THIS BOOK
Chapter i. — Containing little or nothing.
Chapter ii. — The heroe of this great
history appears with very bad omens. A little tale of so LOW a kind that
some may think it not worth their notice. A word or two concerning a
squire, and more relating to a gamekeeper and a schoolmaster.
Chapter iii. — The character of Mr Square
the philosopher, and of Mr Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning——
Chapter iv. — Containing a necessary
apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an
apology likewise.
Chapter v. — The opinions of the divine and
the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their
opinions, and other matters.
Chapter vi. — Containing a better reason
still for the before-mentioned opinions.
Chapter vii. — In which the author himself
makes his appearance on the stage.
Chapter viii. — A childish incident, in
which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones.
Chapter ix. — Containing an incident of a
more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square.
Chapter x. — In which Master Blifil and
Jones appear in different lights.
BOOK IV. — CONTAINING THE TIME OF A
YEAR.
Chapter i. — Containing five pages of
paper.
Chapter ii. — A short hint of what we can
do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western.
Chapter iii. — Wherein the history goes
back to commemorate a trifling incident that happened some years since;
but which, trifling as it was, had some future consequences.
Chapter iv. — Containing such very deep and
grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it.
Chapter v. — Containing matter accommodated
to every taste.
Chapter vi. — An apology for the
insensibility of Mr Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia; in which
possibly we may, in a considerable degree, lower his character in the
estimation of those men of wit and
Chapter vii. — Being the shortest chapter
in this book.
Chapter viii. — A battle sung by the muse
in the Homerican style, and which none but the classical reader can taste.
Chapter ix. — Containing matter of no very
peaceable colour.
Chapter x. — A story told by Mr Supple, the
curate. The penetration of Squire Western. His great love for his
daughter, and the return to it made by her.
Chapter xi. — The narrow escape of Molly
Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive
pretty deep into nature.
Chapter xii. — Containing much clearer
matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the
preceding chapter.
Chapter xiii. — A dreadful accident which
befel Sophia. The gallant behaviour of Jones, and the more dreadful
consequence of that behaviour to the young lady; with a short digression
in favour of the female sex. —
Chapter xiv. — The arrival of a surgeon.—His
operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid.
BOOK V. — CONTAINING A PORTION OF
TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF A YEAR.
Chapter i. — Of the SERIOUS in writing, and
for what purpose it is introduced.
Chapter ii. — In which Mr Jones receives
many friendly visits during his confinement; with some fine touches of the
passion of love, scarce visible to the naked eye.
Chapter iii. — Which all who have no heart
will think to contain much ado about nothing.
Chapter iv. — A little chapter, in which is
contained a little incident.
Chapter v. — A very long chapter,
containing a very great incident.
Chapter vi. — By comparing which with the
former, the reader may possibly correct some abuse which he hath formerly
been guilty of in the application of the word love.
Chapter vii. — In which Mr Allworthy
appears on a sick-bed.
Chapter viii. — Containing matter rather
natural than pleasing.
Chapter ix. — Which, among other things,
may serve as a comment on that saying of Aeschines, that “drunkenness
shows the mind of a man, as a mirrour reflects his person.”
Chapter x. — Showing the truth of many
observations of Ovid, and of other more grave writers, who have proved
beyond contradiction, that wine is often the forerunner of incontinency.
Chapter xi. — In which a simile in Mr
Pope's period of a mile introduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be
fought without the assistance of steel or cold iron.
Chapter xii. — In which is seen a more
moving spectacle than all the blood in the bodies of Thwackum and Blifil,
and of twenty other such, is capable of producing.
BOOK VI. — CONTAINING ABOUT THREE
WEEKS.
Chapter i. — Of love.
Chapter ii. — The character of Mrs Western.
Her great learning and knowledge of the world, and an instance of the deep
penetration which she derived from those advantages.
Chapter iii. — Containing two defiances to
the critics.
Chapter iv. — Containing sundry curious
matters.
Chapter v. — In which is related what
passed between Sophia and her aunt.
Chapter vi. — Containing a dialogue between
Sophia and Mrs Honour, which may a little relieve those tender affections
which the foregoing scene may have raised in the mind of a good-natured
reader.
Chapter vii. — A picture of formal
courtship in miniature, as it always ought to be drawn, and a scene of a
tenderer kind painted at full length.
Chapter viii. — The meeting between Jones
and Sophia.
Chapter ix. — Being of a much more
tempestuous kind than the former.
Chapter x. — In which Mr Western visits Mr
Allworthy.
Chapter xi. — A short chapter; but which
contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader.
Chapter xii. — Containing love-letters,
&c.
Chapter xiii. — The behaviour of Sophia on
the present occasion; which none of her sex will blame, who are capable of
behaving in the same manner. And the discussion of a knotty point in the
court of conscience.
Chapter xiv. — A short chapter, containing
a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister.
BOOK VII. — CONTAINING THREE DAYS.
Chapter i. — A comparison between the world
and the stage.
Chapter ii. — Containing a conversation
which Mr Jones had with himself.
Chapter iii. — Containing several
dialogues.
Chapter iv. — A picture of a country
gentlewoman taken from the life.
Chapter v. — The generous behaviour of
Sophia towards her aunt.
Chapter vi. — Containing great variety of
matter.
Chapter vii. — A strange resolution of
Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs Honour.
Chapter viii. — Containing scenes of
altercation, of no very uncommon kind.
Chapter ix. — The wise demeanour of Mr
Western in the character of a magistrate. A hint to justices of peace,
concerning the necessary qualifications of a clerk; with extraordinary
instances of paternal madness and
Chapter x. — Containing several matters,
natural enough perhaps, but low.
Chapter xi. — The adventure of a company of
soldiers.
Chapter xii. — The adventure of a company
of officers.
Chapter xiii. — Containing the great
address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid
skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant.
Chapter xiv. — A most dreadful chapter
indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening,
especially when alone.
Chapter xv. — The conclusion of the
foregoing adventure.
BOOK VIII. — CONTAINING ABOUT TWO
DAYS.
Chapter i. — A wonderful long chapter
concerning the marvellous; being much the longest of all our introductory
chapters.
Chapter ii. — In which the landlady pays a
visit to Mr Jones.
Chapter iii. — In which the surgeon makes
his second appearance.
Chapter iv. — In which is introduced one of
the pleasantest barbers that was ever recorded in history, the barber of
Bagdad, or he in Don Quixote, not excepted.
Chapter v. — A dialogue between Mr Jones
and the barber.
Chapter vi. — In which more of the talents
of Mr Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was.
Chapter vii. — Containing better reasons
than any which have yet appeared for the conduct of Partridge; an apology
for the weakness of Jones; and some further anecdotes concerning my
landlady.
Chapter viii. — Jones arrives at
Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; the character of that house, and of a
petty-fogger which he there meets with.
Chapter ix. — Containing several dialogues
between Jones and Partridge, concerning love, cold, hunger, and other
matters; with the lucky and narrow escape of Partridge, as he was on the
very brink of making a fatal
Chapter x. — In which our travellers meet
with a very extraordinary adventure.
Chapter xi. — In which the Man of the Hill
begins to relate his history.
Chapter xii. — In which the Man of the Hill
continues his history.
Chapter xiii. — In which the foregoing
story is farther continued.
Chapter xiv. — In which the Man of the Hill
concludes his history.
Chapter xv. — A brief history of Europe;
and a curious discourse between Mr Jones and the Man of the Hill.
BOOK IX. — CONTAINING TWELVE HOURS.
Chapter i. — Of those who lawfully may, and
of those who may not, write such histories as this.
Chapter ii. — Containing a very surprizing
adventure indeed, which Mr Jones met with in his walk with the Man of the
Hill.
Chapter iii. — The arrival of Mr Jones with
his lady at the inn; with a very full description of the battle of Upton.
Chapter iv. — In which the arrival of a man
of war puts a final end to hostilities, and causes the conclusion of a
firm and lasting peace between all parties.
Chapter v. — An apology for all heroes who
have good stomachs, with a description of a battle of the amorous kind.
Chapter vi. — A friendly conversation in
the kitchen, which had a very common, though not very friendly,
conclusion.
Chapter vii. — Containing a fuller account
of Mrs Waters, and by what means she came into that distressful situation
from which she was rescued by Jones.
BOOK X. — IN WHICH THE HISTORY GOES
FORWARD ABOUT TWELVE HOURS.
Chapter i. — Containing instructions very
necessary to be perused by modern critics.
Chapter ii. — Containing the arrival of an
Irish gentleman, with very extraordinary adventures which ensued at the
inn.
Chapter iii. — A dialogue between the
landlady and Susan the chamber-maid, proper to be read by all inn-keepers
and their servants; with the arrival, and affable behaviour of a beautiful
young lady; which may teach
Chapter iv. — Containing infallible
nostrums for procuring universal disesteem and hatred.
Chapter v. — Showing who the amiable lady,
and her unamiable maid, were.
Chapter vi. — Containing, among other
things, the ingenuity of Partridge, the madness of Jones, and the folly of
Fitzpatrick.
Chapter vii. — In which are concluded the
adventures that happened at the inn at Upton.
Chapter viii. — In which the history goes
backward.
Chapter ix. — The escape of Sophia.
BOOK XI. — CONTAINING ABOUT THREE
DAYS.
Chapter i. — A crust for the critics.
Chapter ii. — The adventures which Sophia
met with after her leaving Upton.
Chapter iii. — A very short chapter, in
which however is a sun, a moon, a star, and an angel.
Chapter iv. — The history of Mrs
Fitzpatrick.
Chapter v. — In which the history of Mrs
Fitzpatrick is continued.
Chapter vi. — In which the mistake of the
landlord throws Sophia into a dreadful consternation.
Chapter vii. — In which Mrs Fitzpatrick
concludes her history.
Chapter viii. — A dreadful alarm in the
inn, with the arrival of an unexpected friend of Mrs Fitzpatrick.
Chapter ix. — The morning introduced in
some pretty writing. A stagecoach. The civility of chambermaids. The
heroic temper of Sophia. Her generosity. The return to it. The departure
of the company, and their
Chapter x. — Containing a hint or two
concerning virtue, and a few more concerning suspicion.
BOOK XII. — CONTAINING THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH THE FORMER.
Chapter i. — Showing what is to be deemed
plagiarism in a modern author, and what is to be considered as lawful
prize.
Chapter ii. — In which, though the squire
doth not find his daughter, something is found which puts an end to his
pursuit.
Chapter iii. — The departure of Jones from
Upton, with what passed between him and Partridge on the road.
Chapter iv. — The adventure of a
beggar-man.
Chapter v. — Containing more adventures
which Mr Jones and his companion met on the road.
Chapter vi. — From which it may be inferred
that the best things are liable to be misunderstood and misinterpreted.
Chapter vii. — Containing a remark or two
of our own and many more of the good company assembled in the kitchen.
Chapter viii. — In which fortune seems to
have been in a better humour with Jones than we have hitherto seen her.
Chapter ix. — Containing little more than a
few odd observations.
Chapter x. — In which Mr Jones and Mr
Dowling drink a bottle together.
Chapter xi. — The disasters which befel
Jones on his departure for Coventry; with the sage remarks of Partridge.
Chapter xii. — Relates that Mr Jones
continued his journey, contrary to the advice of Partridge, with what
happened on that occasion.
Chapter xiii. — A dialogue between Jones
and Partridge.
Chapter xiv. — What happened to Mr Jones in
his journey from St Albans.
BOOK XIII. — CONTAINING THE SPACE
OF TWELVE DAYS.
Chapter i. — An Invocation.
Chapter ii. — What befel Mr Jones on his
arrival in London.
Chapter iii. — A project of Mrs
Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston.
Chapter iv. — Which consists of visiting.
Chapter v. — An adventure which happened to
Mr Jones at his lodgings, with some account of a young gentleman who
lodged there, and of the mistress of the house, and her two daughters.
Chapter vi. — What arrived while the
company were at breakfast, with some hints concerning the government of
daughters.
Chapter vii. — Containing the whole humours
of a masquerade.
Chapter viii. — Containing a scene of
distress, which will appear very extraordinary to most of our readers.
Chapter ix. — Which treats of matters of a
very different kind from those in the preceding chapter.
Chapter x. — A chapter which, though short,
may draw tears from some eyes.
Chapter xi. — In which the reader will be
surprized.
Chapter xii. — In which the thirteenth book
is concluded.
BOOK XIV. — CONTAINING TWO DAYS.
Chapter i. — An essay to prove that an
author will write the better for having some knowledge of the subject on
which he writes.
Chapter ii. — Containing letters and other
matters which attend amours.
Chapter iii. — Containing various matters.
Chapter iv. — Which we hope will be very
attentively perused by young people of both sexes.
Chapter v. — A short account of the history
of Mrs Miller.
Chapter vi. — Containing a scene which we
doubt not will affect all our readers.
Chapter vii. — The interview between Mr
Jones and Mr Nightingale.
Chapter viii. — What passed between Jones
and old Mr Nightingale; with the arrival of a person not yet mentioned in
this history.
Chapter ix. — Containing strange matters.
Chapter x. — A short chapter, which
concludes the book.
BOOK XV. — IN WHICH THE HISTORY
ADVANCES ABOUT TWO DAYS.
Chapter i. — Too short to need a preface.
Chapter ii. — In which is opened a very
black design against Sophia.
Chapter iii. — A further explanation of the
foregoing design.
Chapter iv. — By which it will appear how
dangerous an advocate a lady is when she applies her eloquence to an ill
purpose.
Chapter v. — Containing some matters which
may affect, and others which may surprize, the reader.
Chapter vi. — By what means the squire came
to discover his daughter.
Chapter vii. — In which various misfortunes
befel poor Jones.
Chapter viii. — Short and sweet.
Chapter ix. — Containing love-letters of
several sorts.
Chapter x. — Consisting partly of facts,
and partly of observations upon them.
Chapter xi. — Containing curious, but not
unprecedented matter.
Chapter xii. — A discovery made by
Partridge.
BOOK XVI.
Chapter i. — Of prologues.
Chapter ii. — A whimsical adventure which
befel the squire, with the distressed situation of Sophia.
Chapter iii. — What happened to Sophia
during her confinement.
Chapter iv. — In which Sophia is delivered
from her confinement.
Chapter v. — In which Jones receives a
letter from Sophia, and goes to a play with Mrs Miller and Partridge.
Chapter vi. — In which the history is
obliged to look back.
Chapter vii. — In which Mr Western pays a
visit to his sister, in company with Mr Blifil.
Chapter viii. — Schemes of Lady Bellaston
for the ruin of Jones.
Chapter ix. — In which Jones pays a visit
to Mrs Fitzpatrick.
Chapter x. — The consequence of the
preceding visit.
BOOK XVII.
Chapter i. — Containing a portion of
introductory writing.
Chapter ii. — The generous and grateful
behaviour of Mrs Miller.
Chapter iii. — The arrival of Mr Western,
with some matters concerning the paternal authority.
Chapter iv. — An extraordinary scene
between Sophia and her aunt.
Chapter v. — Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale
visit Jones in the prison.
Chapter vi. — In which Mrs Miller pays a
visit to Sophia.
Chapter vii. — A pathetic scene between Mr
Allworthy and Mrs Miller.
Chapter viii. — Containing various matters.
Chapter ix. — What happened to Mr Jones in
the prison.
BOOK XVIII.
Chapter i. — A farewel to the reader.
Chapter ii. — Containing a very tragical
incident.
Chapter iii. — Allworthy visits old
Nightingale; with a strange discovery that he made on that occasion.
Chapter iv. — Containing two letters in
very different stiles.
Chapter v. — In which the history is
continued.
Chapter vi. — In which the history is
farther continued
Chapter vii. — Continuation of the history.
Chapter viii. — Further continuation.
Chapter ix. — A further continuation.
Chapter x. — Wherein the history begins to
draw towards a conclusion.
Chapter xi. — The history draws nearer to a
conclusion.
Chapter xii. — Approaching still nearer to
the end.
Chapter the last.
